Tray delivery mechanism



1951 v. E. AcKLE TRAY DELIVERY MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 11,1946 gwue/wto o Vl/EG/L E. ficKLEs Oct- 16, 1951 v. E. ACKLES TRAYDELIVERY MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 11, 1946 0 1951 v. E.ACKLES TRAY DELIVERY MECHANISM 3 Sheet s-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 11, 1946Wee/4. E ACKLES Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAYDELIVERY "MECHANISM Virgil E. Ackles, Los Angeles, Califi, assignor toDoughnut Corporation of America, New York, N. Y., a Corporation or NewYork Application December 11, 1946, Serial No. 715,381

1 Claim. (01. 198-35) This invention relates to: an organized apparatususeful .in' the commercialproduction V of point of travel to turn thedoughnuts over to.

accomplish cooking on the reverse side. Generally, such devices at the.delivery end are equipped with an inclined conveyor constructed andarranged to deliver the. cooked. doughnuts out of the vat into basketsafter which they are placed by hand on trays and the loaded trays arethen put in suitable racks to await further processing such as glazing,icing and the like.

This method of handling has the disadvantage that when the freshlycooked doughnuts are .thus piled up in a basket, the weight of the upperones frequently crushes the lower ones so that they are unsaleable. Thisisespecially true of the raised type of doughnut.

Heretofore, the placing of the cooked doughnuts on trays has beenentirely'a manual operation including the placing :of the tray on atable loading it with a layer of doughnuts and then transferring thetray to a rack.

To simplify this operation it is an object of this invention 'to providean organized apparatus at the delivery end of a doughnut cooking vatwhich will deliver-a series of trays in succession in such position andin such timed sequence that each tray will be comp1ete1y.-filled withcooked doughnuts so that the attendant is required merely to pick up thetrays as they are filled and to transfer them to a rack foriurtherprocessing.

It is afurther object of the invention to provide an organized apparatusconstructed and arranged to be disposed at "the delivery end of adoughnut cooking machine and adapted to' rec'eive the cooked doughnutsand to convey them to a position where they will be delivered in timedsequence to a series of moving trays.

A still further object of the invention is th provide a tray deliveringand filling apparatus in which a single power means i's employed todeliver the doughnuts and the trays with an corporated speed changingdevice whereby the speed with which the trays are delivered can becorrelated to, the rate of delivery of doughnuts from the cookingapparatus to the end that each tray will be completely filled. I A

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of vthe above described character which is so constructed and arranged as topermit suppliesof empty trays to be added from time to time withoutstopping the operation of the machine. 4

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision in anorganized apparatus of the above character of devices operableautomatically to warn the attendant when the stack of trays areexhausted. U V

A still further obje ct of g the invention is to provide an apparatus ofthe above described character which is simple and economicalconstruction, reliable in operation and which is easy to keep clean. a

..With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objectsand advantages as may subsequently app-ear, the invention resides in theparts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of partshereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated by way of example inthe accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an exemplary form of apparatusincorporating the invention,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1, I I A Fig. 3 is a side elevationsimilar to Fig. 1 but with the side brokenaway to show principles ofinterior construction, 1

.Figs. 4. and 5. are enlarged fragmentary sectional views showing theoperation of the tray delivering apparatus at different stages of theoperation of picking up a tray,

Figs. 6,7 .and 8 are fragmentary transverse sectional views taken on thelines 66,1-1 and -.88 respectively of Fig. 1,,

Figs. 9 and 10 :are end and side elevations of a typical bearingmounting,

.Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section taken on the line I I-ell of Fig.1,Fig. .12 is :anenlarged View of the warning signal operating means, andFi'g.-13 is .a perspective view of aruportion of a tray adapted foruseintheapparaais,

- In the mode of :execution of the invention disclosed in. the drawings,the app-aratus comprises .a frame structure A, of generally rectangul'arcross "section and-of considerable length. Preferably it is constructed\Of sheet metal sides I and 2 and a series of top and bottom crosspieces bolted, riveted or welded together to form a unitary structure.Additionally, the frame structure is so disposed as to serve assupporting means for the operating devices comprising a motor and otherdevices presently to be described. At one end the upper surface carriesa downwardly inclined, wide, shallow trough or chute 3 adapted toreceive doughnuts discharged from a cooking apparatus and to cause themto slide down onto the upper surface of fixed inclined conveyor 4extending along the upper surface of the structure and being somewhathigher at its delivery end than at its receiving end. Excess cooking oildripping from the doughnuts will fall off the end of the chute 3 into acollecting tank 4a mounted in the structure in the form of a drawer. Asbest shown in Fig. 3, the side walls I and 2 and the top portion 5 ofthe frame structure combine to form a shallow recess 8 enclosing thesides and extending underneath the conveyor 4. The conveyor 4 is formedof an endless belt of well known construction comprising a series oftransverse bars having their ends interlinked to form a chain, theinterstices between adjacent bars being engaged by suitable drivingsprockets I-'I on the shaft 8 which shaft is journalled for rotation insuitable self aligning bearings 9 and I8 affixed to the frame work ofthe frame structureA. Referring to Figs. 9 and 10 the shaft 8 protrudesthrough an opening in the side piece I and through a registeringclearance in the vertically disposed flange of an angle iron II weldedtothe side piece I. Mounted on the horizontal flange of the angle iron isa bearing assembly comprising seat and cap members I2 and I3 surroundingand securing a bearing sleeve I4 in which the shaft 8 is journalled andwhichsleeve on its exterior surface is spherical so that the bearing isself-aligning. Bolts I5 connect the bearing assembly to the horizontal-:leg of the angle iron. In referring to other bearings those referredto as self-aligning will be understood to be of the same generalcharacter as above described in detail.

Journalled on the shaft 8 adjacent the proximate sides of the sprockets1-1 are a pair of collars I8-I6 each of which collars has afiixedthereto one end of a pair of spacing bars II-I'I the other ends of whichare fixed to a stationary shaft I8 on which adjacent the bars II-II apair of sprockets I9I9 are journalled. The sprockets are the same as thesprockets 1-1 and engage the same interstices in the conveyor 4. Byreason of this construction the conveyor 4 can be swung about the axisof the shaft 8 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 for the purpose ofcleaning the top portion 5 which forms the bottom of the recess 6 inwhich the conveyor operates.

The shaft 8 protrudes beyond the self-aligning bearing I0 and carries asprocket 2| which is connected by a chain 22 to a sprocket 23 fixed tothe end of a shaft 24 journalled in self-aligning bearings 25 and 26carried by the side pieces 'I and 2 respectively. Intermediate its endsthe shaft 24 carries a sprocket 21 freely rotatable thereon whichsprocket is connected by a chain 28 to a sprocket 29 on the driven shaft29' of a speed reduction unit 30 of any suitable type and the speedreducer is mounted on a cross member 38 interconnecting the lower endsof the side pieces I and 2. The sprocket 21 serves additionally as thedriving side of a friction clutch assembly 21 the driven side of whichis fixed to the shaft 24 adjacent the bearing as indicated in Fig. 7. Ahand lever 3| pivoted to a bracket 32 depending from the bearing 25 andconnected by links 32'-32 to the driving portion of the clutch assemblyprovides a means of disconnecting and connecting the shaft 24 with thesource of power at the will of the operator.

The speed reducer is connected by a belt 33 to the driven side of avariable speed unit 34 which is of common design and which may be variedby adjustment of the handle 35 about the axis of the shaft 38. Thevariable speed unit like the speed reducer is mounted on a bottom crossmember 31 interconnecting the side pieces I and 2. The driven side ofthe variable speed unit is connected by a belt 38 to an electric motor39 also mounted on a cross member 40. If desired, the motor 39 maybe avariable speed motor with consequent elimination ofthe variable speedunit. Alsothespeed reduction unit here shown as a separate unit may be.supplanted by amotor having a built-in reduction unit or the frictionclutch here shown mounted .on the. shaft24 may be combined with the.motor, all without departure from the principles of the invention; itbeing necessary only to have a source of power with capacity forinfinite variation of speed and capacity for instantaneous starting andstopping. Preferably, as here shown, the various elements are such ascan be purchased on the open market.

Journalled in self-aligning bearings H and 42 carried by the sidepiecesil and 2 respectively is a shaft 43 which intermediate thebearings carries a sprocket 44 connected by an endless chain 45 with asprocket 48 fixed to a shaft 41 which in turn is journalled inself-aligning bearings 48 and 49 carried by the side pieces I and 2 atthe extreme outer and upper end of the frame structure. The shaft 41between the sprocket 46 and the bearing'48 has fixed thereto a sprocket50 which is connected by a chain 5| to a sprocket 52 fixed to the shaft24. Thus it is that power generated by the motor 39 is transmitted tothe clutch 21 and upon engagement of the clutch the conveyor 4 and thechain 45 will be simultaneously operated with the upper portions thereofmoving in the same direction.

Fixed to the side pieces I and 2 and underlying the upper chain 45 is asheet metal plate 54 which extends substantially the entire distancebetween the shafts 43 and 41. The plate 54 adjacent each edge thereofcarries a pair of rails 55-55 the outer ends of which extend beyond theend of the plate 54 oxer the shaft 41 and thence curve downwardly andare fixed as by welding to a cross member 58 extending between the sidepieces I and 2.

Immediately below the top portion 5 of the frame structure, the sidepieces I and 2 are provided with opposed trapezoidal shaped openings51-5I, the portions of the side pieces forming the lower edges of saidopenings extending substantially parallel to and slightly above theplate 54 and the rails 55-55 carried thereby. A cross member 58 projectsdownwardly from the underside of the portion 5 and extends thereacrossat the rear ends of the openings 5I-5I and at its bottom edge terminatesin a forwardly extending lip portion 58. A pair of bars -80 extendsacross the opening 51 in the side piece 2.

Referring to Fig. 13 there is shown a rack or tray SI of the typeparticularly adapted for use with the invention. This tray comprises amain frame member 62 in the form of a round cornerrectangleof. heavywire or rodl provided with a. series of. co-planar' cross members'53.Lying on. top of the ends. of the frame; member 62 and the. crossmembers. 63= is a series of. spaced parallel wires. or rods 64,. thewhole assembly of frame. member-,. cross. members. and rods being weldedtogether toform an integral structure. In use, a quantity of trays 61are stackeditogetlier: and: insertedinthe opening inth'elside piece Iwith therearend of: the bottom: tray resting on the lip or ledge 59 andthe front edge thereof resting on the rails 5555. The rails are ofsufficient heighth so that the front end of the tray frame is held clearof the chain 45. At spaced intervals, the chain 45 is provided withtray-engaging lugs 65 in the form of vertically disposed metal platesarranged on each side of the chain. As the chain advances, a pair oflugs will engage the forward end of the bottom tray of the stack andpull it forward. The remaining trays will engage a cross member 66 atthe forward end of the opening 51 and will be restrained from moving andduring the first part of movement of the bottom tray the rear end willbe pulled free of the ledge 59 and will drop down on the rails 55-55 andthen will be drawn along the rails toward their outer ends. When therear end of the tray passes beneath the front end of the stack, thestack will drop down with the front end of the next tray engaging therails 5555 for engagement by the next set of lugs on the chain 45.

Incident to this movement, the trays pass beneath a chute 5'! extendingbetween the side pieces I and 2 and leading downwardly from beneath theupper end of the conveyor 5 and down which doughnuts delivered from theconveyor 4 slide. The forward movement of the tray and of the conveyor 4is so timed that as the tray passes beneath the chute 6'! it will becovered by a single layer of doughnuts. The lugs 55 on the chain 45 areso spaced that a minimum of space exists between adjacent trays. As eachtray a proaches the end of the apparatus an attendant picks out anydefective doughnuts and then picks up the tray and its load and placesit in a rack for cooling and for subsequent processing of the doughnutsthereon. From time to time the attendant supplies more racks to the milein the opening 51, the speed of the machine being such that thisincidental operation can be performed without a serious interruption ofthe work of the removal of filled trays.

Referrin now to Fig. l2v there is shown in enlar ed form a warningdevice operable automatically to warn the attendant when the stack oftrays is exhausted. As here shown the lip 59 of the cross member 58intermediate its ends is provided with a transverse slot 68 into whichextends an arm 59 of a bell crank member 10 pivoted to the cross member58 at H. The other arm i2 of the bell crank extends upwardly along therear face of the cross member 58 and as viewed in Fig. 12 it is normallyurged in a counterclockwise direction by a leaf spring 13 one end ofwhich is riveted or otherwise fixed to the cross member 53. overlyingthe free end of the arm 12 is a bracket member '54 the free end of whichcarries an electrical contact member 15 which is insulated from thebracket member. Connected to the contact member 15 is one side of anelectrical circuit including a source of energy such as a battery ortransformer 16 and a bell 1?,- tlie other side of the circuit being"grounded some frame. The strength of the spring 1-3 is s-ufnbi'entlyweak to be overcome by the-weight of a single tray resting on the ledgeor lip 59 with resultant opening of the electric circuit. When the lasttray of a stack has been removed by the chain 45 the spring will causethe arm 12 to engage the contact point 75 closing the circuit andcausing. the bell or other. warning signaloperated thereby to operateuntil; a freshi stack. of trays is inserted in the machine which thenwill automatically open the circuit and thus disable the signal.Preferably also the warning circuit will include a manually operatedswitch 18 by which the circuit is disabled when the machine is idle.Also in place of the battery here shown the warning signal circuit maybe energized from the power line for the driving motor by theinterposition of the usual bell transformer.

It is particularly to be noted that the trays are so designed that ifany tray should happen to be placed in a stack in inverted position, thelongitudinal wires 64 engaging the rails 55-55 will hold the frame asufficient distance above the lugs 65 so that no engagement will beeffected.

By reason of this improved handling appara-- tus the cooked doughnutsare deposited in a single layer on trays without any incidental manualhandling and since they are thus arranged subsequent processing such asglazing, icing, etc. can be performed without removing the doughnutsfrom the tray, each tray full being handled as a unit.

While reference has been made throughout the foregoing specification todoughnuts the term is used by way of example only and it will beunderstood that in its broadest aspect the invention is equally usefulfor crullers or any other food product that can be cooked while floatingin a heated cooking oil.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention Ido not limit myself to the exact details of construction set forth, andthe invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents ofthe parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purviewof the appended claim.

I claim:

In a handling apparatus for cooked doughnuts and the like, a framestructure, parallel rails carried by said structure, a fixed ledgeextending above said rails transversely thereof in vertically spacedrelation thereto for supporting the rear end of a tray the forward endof which is supported on said rails, whereby the tray is positioned ininclined relation to said rails, said ledge and said rails affording asupport at all times for a stack of trays when imposed thereon, anendless tray conveyor having an upper portion extending beneath butcontiguous said rails and moveable in the direction of the lengththereof, tray engaging lugs on said conveyor projecting upwardlytherefrom, means for moving said conveyor in a direction to advance thelugs on the upper portion thereof beneath a tray supported on said ledgeand rails from the rear end thereof on said ledge toward the forward endsupported on said rails; said ledge being spaced above said conveyor sothat the lugs pass therebeneath and said rails being spaced above saidconveyor less than the height of said lugs so that the forward end of atra imposed on said rails will be supported thereby at all timesprevious to and during its engagement and advance by said lugs, saidluge beirigengageable with the end of the tray initially seated on saidrails to advance the tra Number on said rails when the conveyor is inmotion. 467,710 I 612,773 VIRGIL E. ACKLES. 5 623,185 930,673 5REFERENCES CITED 1 33%; The following references are of record in the1,891,319 file of this patent: 10 1,892,790 2,079,778

8 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Dfite Ruger Jan.- 26, 1892 Harton Oct. 18,1898 Schinneller Apr. 18, 1899 Manischewitz Aug. 10, 1909 Oliver May 8,1928 Delvin Mar. 31, 1931 Stayton Dec. 20, 1932 Smelser Jan. 3, 1933Thom May 11, 1937 Thum Apr. 14, 1942

